Improvement in lasts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

L JOSEPH- E. OHENETTE, OF HILLSBOROUGH, OREGON.

IM PR'OVEM ENT IN LASTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,513, dated October 1, 1878; application filed July 29, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. GHENETTE, of Hillsborough, county of Washington, and State of Oregon, have invented an Improvement in Lasts and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings.

My invention relates to certain improvements in lasts such as are employed in the construction of boots and shoes; and it consists in a novel method of securing and locking the front part of the last to the rear or main portion.

My invention further consists in a novel means for nailing the sole of the boot or shoe to the last so that the last shall not become perforated by nail-holes, and so that a perpetually-renewed surface shall be provided for the reception of the nails.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal section of my last. Fig. 2 is a view of the main portion with the front removed. Fig. 3 is a view of the front portion with its spring. Fig. 4 is a view of the nailliolding plates.

A is the main portion or body of my last, and B is the last-block or removable portion.

A spring-plate, O, is secured to the lower portion of the last-block B, so as to stand out from the surface slightly, as shown; and a groove, D, corresponding in width with the spring-plate, is formed in the top or front of the body A, so that as the parts lie together this spring-plate will fit into the groove, and the two parts of the last will fit and appear as one.

In order to hold the two parts together I make two points of security. One consists of a metallic plate, E, which is screwed to the body A, so as to cross the groove D, and when the last-block B is placed'upon the upper portion of A, and pushed down into its place, the front end of the spring-plate G will pass beneath the plate or bar E, and rest against the stop F. At this point there is a lug, Gr, projecting upward, and a corresponding slot, H, is made in the toe or point of the plate 0, so that as it slides into place it will embrace this lug, and thus prevent any side shake or movement of the two parts of the last at this point.

A pin, G, projects downward from the lastblock B, and also enters the slot, to assist in steadying the spring.

The next important feature is the look at the upper end. This consists in allowing the rear upper end of the spring-plate O to fall into the upper end of the groove D, which has a metallic stop at nearly right angles with the face, so that the effect of any attempt to lift the last-block B would be to bind the end of the spring 0, as against an inclined face.

In order to remove this part when necessary I have bent the spring backward upon itself, as shown at I, forming it into a sort of reverse curve at this point, which extends into the the last-block B of the last.

A hole, J, is made transversely through the block B, so that the curved end of the spring will lie within this hole, as shown.

A hook having a tapering point, as at K, may be thus inserted into the hole, and the tapering point acts as a wedge upon the curve I, which draws the rear end of the spring O up flush with the lower surface of the lastblock B, thus allowing it to be drawn backward and removed from the body A.

These devices give me a perfect lock, and secure the parts of the last quickly and with great solidity, while they may be separated with facility.

An important difficulty which attends the common last is the difficulty in preserving it against the wear caused by nailing the sole to the last constantly at two points, where holes are usually made through the iron sole of the last to allow these nails to enter the wood. In a short time the wood becomes so perforated and torn that it will no longer hold a nail, and must then be renewed. I remedy this as follows: L L are the holes in the me tallic sole for the entrance of the nails. Beneath these holes I make an open out, as shown at M, and in this cut I place pieces of springsteel, N, standing on edge, until the opening is full. These plates are made sharp upon the edge, so as to present no resistance to the entrance of a nail between them, and the cut is en larged at the sides, so as to allow the plates to be separated by the entering nail. Their elasticity will retain the nail strongly in place, and will also close the space immediately after the nail is withdrawn, so that I have a perpetually-renewed surface for the nail, which will never wear out.

It will be manifest that this nail-holding device may be used in the crimping-boards and other places where it is necessary to secure nails.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Thelast consisting of thebodyA, grooved as shown, and having the bar E across the groove, in combination with the last-block B, having the spring 0 secured to it so as to enter the groove beneath the bar, said spring having its rear end formed into a curve, I,

adapted to serve as a lock or be withdrawn by a hook, K, substantially as herein described.

2. The spring C, having its toe or front end slotted, as shown at H, in combination with- JOSEPH EZEKIL OHENETTE.

Witnesses:

FRANK A. BROOKS, M. A. NEAL. 

